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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Chavis Has Not Ruled Out Georgia

BATON ROUGE - As of late Tuesday night, LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis had not completely ruled out a lucrative offer to be Georgia's defensive coordinator after just one season with the Tigers.

Chavis is scheduled to be a part of the Capital One Bowl coordinator's press conferences on Wednesday afternoon in Orlando, Fla. LSU plays Penn State in the Capital One Bowl at noon Friday on ABC.

Chavis' decision could be made public shortly after the game if not sooner. He has not told anyone definitively what he is going to do.

A oomment by LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard Monday seemed to say that Chavis was staying at LSU.

Sheppard reportedly told WBRZ TV (Baton Rouge) reporter Michael Cauble, who is in Orlando, that Chavis came up to Sheppard during practice Monday and said, "You knew if I was going anywhere, you'd be the first person I'd tell. I'm here with you all. I love it here. I'm not going anywhere."

This is a quote from a coach to a player to the media. Chavis likely did tell Sheppard that and Sheppard likely relayed it correctly, but since Chavis said that things could have changed. Georgia coach Mark Richt may have thrown more money toward Chavis, who makes in the neighborhood of $500,000 a year. And when Chavis does decide to leave, Sheppard could still "be the first person" he tells.

There have been many coaches who have loved their present job only to take a new one that they feel could be even better. Plus, Sheppard may not be at LSU next season anyway. He is considering consulting with the NFL advisory board to see where he might go in the next NFL Draft.

Georgia head coach Mark Richt, meanwhile, could be desperate. He is coming off a 7-5 regular season, which is his worst in nine years at the school. His defense was bad, and he fired both co-coordinators and a third defensive coach.

Chavis is from nearby South Carolina, and he witnessed a very shaky sideline this season at LSU and some questionable offensive game plans and game day management while his defense played well enough to win virtually every game.

Chavis did enjoy being at LSU this season and likes how LSU head coach Les Miles leaves him alone. An opportunity to be one of the highest paid coordinators in all of college football, though, may be too good to pass up. And Georgia has a very similar recruiting base to LSU.

LSU managed to keep Chavis. It should have redone Crowton's contract differently last year. Like - drastically decrease his base salary, and make a lot more of his salary contingent on the offense's productivity and national rankings.

Another year with a pathetic offense, and both Crowton and Miles need to go - Crowton for the nauseating results and Miles for letting it continue. Just like Dinardo and Tepper in '98 and '99.

Miles needs to get more involved with the offense next year, since Crowton doesn't have a clue what to do with all the talent.